AFS Intercultural Programs and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are thrilled to announce a strengthened partnership for the 31st Session of the AFS Youth Assembly, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 12-14, 2026.

This partnership combines AFS’s century-long expertise in intercultural education with UNITAR’s world-class training in global diplomacy and sustainable development. Together, we aim to provide young leaders with the practical skills and high-level networks needed to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.

For the 2026 Youth Assembly, UNITAR will partner to host the Youth Assembly conference and will play a pivotal role in the Geneva International Affairs Academy. Specifically, UNITAR will:

Provide expert training: Lead sessions on global governance, multilateral diplomacy, and the UN system within the Academy.

Facilitate diplomacy skills development: Guide participants through UN conference–style debates and negotiation exercises as part of the Academy.

Grant official certification: Participants in the AFS Youth Assembly will receive a joint UNITAR–AFS Certificate of Participation, while those who complete the UNITAR-led Academy will receive an official UNITAR Certificate of Participation, strengthening their professional credentials in international relations.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is the dedicated training arm of the United Nations system. Its mission is to develop the individual, institutional, and organizational capacities of countries and other United Nations stakeholders through high-quality learning solutions and related knowledge products and services to enhance decision-making and support country-level action. Its support for the AFS Youth Assembly started in 2025 when UNITAR helped to organize a high-level observance of International Youth Day for 800+ young leaders from around the world. Over the years, the AFS Youth Assembly has become a transformative platform that turns youthful energy into tangible global impact, cultivating a vast network of over 20,000 alumni across 160 countries. 

About the 2026 AFS Youth Assembly

Hosted in the heart of global diplomacy — Geneva — the 2026 Youth Assembly is themed “Rise. Reimagine. Rebuild: A World for All“. The event will gather hundreds of talented young leaders (ages 18-35) from over 100 countries to move from dialogue to action. 

The program is organized around four critical content tracks:

Reclaiming Development as a Human Right for All.

Policy, Justice, and Adaptation: Real-World Solutions for Climate Resilience. 

Rethinking Education: Youth Innovation for Future-Ready Skills. 

Bridging Divides: The Power of Connection in a Polarized World. 

Delegates will participate in plenaries with global leaders, parallel skill-building workshops, an Opportunities Fair, and the AFS Young Global Citizen Award Pitch Competition, where finalists compete for a US $10,000 grant to fund their social impact projects.